Love Under Water

The Helpful Kind

I try limping my way out of the sauna, when Matt asks in haste, “Where are you going?”

“To the changing rooms then my work here starts in about ten minutes. I’m behind schedule, I still haven’t checked so many things.” I wonder why am I telling him this, it’s like my mind is losing control. I turn around to leave when he grabs my arm and, with his other hand holds my waist.

“I’ll take you to the changing room and I’ll help you as well. Just tell me what needs to be done and I will manage everything.”

I just realized how tall he is. I am 5.7” and I don’t even reach his shoulder. Right now I feel short. His close proximity makes it difficult to do anything clearly. I mean, imagine the guy you have a serious crush on suddenly becomes your savior, you’re in his arms, he’s touching you and now he’s even holding you, offering to help you. Am I dreaming? Gah kill me before I wake up. I never want to wake up. This is my ultimate imagination. Gosh, what’s wrong with me?

He leaves me in the changing room, “You sure you will manage?” he looks so cute with that worried look on his face. Wait, is he worried about me?

I smile back at him, “Yes, I am sure I will manage. Umm, can you stock the towels and see if the showers are clean in the men’s changing room? I’ll check the ladies.”

He gives me his dimpled smile and, before jogging away, gives me a thumbs up. I hit the shower and warm water cascades down my body. It feels nice, but soon it is obvious that I can’t stand for a longer period of time. With the towel wrapped around me, I start limping toward my locker. By now, the intensity of the pain has increased once again. I sit at the nearby bench unable to move on, I guess I underestimated my condition. How will I change? I am still contemplating when I hear a knock on the door.

“Ariel, you okay in there? I have done everything you told me to. Is there anything else?”

“Th thanks Matt, yeah I’m okay.” The pain in my voice is obvious. I take a deep breath and try to stand but the pain shoots through my leg and I sit back down with my head in my hands.

“Ariel, you don’t sound too well, I’m coming in,” Matt informs me from the other side of the door.

Panic grips me as I am sitting here only in a towel and before I have the time to say no, he walks in. My cheeks flush in embarrassment and I wrap the towel tighter around myself, it’s even harder to look at him now that I am in a compromising situation. I steal a glance at him as he comes closer and my heart does a flip flop.

“You’re not supposed to be in here. What if you get into trouble?” I still can’t meet his gaze and he stops a couple of steps away from me.

He ignores my question and I can feel his eyes on me making me self-conscious. Well, I am literally wearing nothing except a towel.

“Where’s your locker, Ariel?” I look up at him and our eyes lock once again. I point towards one of the lockers which he opens and hands me my bag.

“Do you need anything else?” he asks, still facing the lockers.

“No, thank you, everything is in my bag,” I reply breathlessly.

“Then, while you change I will be waiting outside. You call me when you are done.”

Matt’s POV

I don’t know what possessed me, but when I heard her voice filled with agony I couldn’t help myself and decided to go inside the ladies changing room. I know very well that if I get caught here there will be serious repercussions. We have very strict rules against men entering ladies rooms or vice versa.

I am confounded by the sight in front of me. She is sitting only with a towel wrapped around her, her skin glowing and her cheeks flushed. Her wet hair falls loosely on her shoulders, I can easily call her my dream girl in person. She has the innocence of an angel, she looks at me with those alluring eyes and I can see that she’s feeling shy. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable, but it's hard to look away. I ask her about her locker. She lets me know which one is hers and I hand her the bag. I inform her that I’m waiting outside while she changes though if it were up to me I would never leave.

Pain is evident on her face, I can see how she is struggling and trying to make her way out. We are leaving the swimming pool and beside a couple, nobody else is there.

“How will you go home? Do you have a car?” I ask her.

“No, I didn’t bring a car today, I’ll take a bus.” She shrugs her shoulders.

“No, you’re not taking a bus in this condition. I’ll drop you home.” Yup, I had already thought of dropping her home while she was changing. There’s no way I will allow her to take a bus. She looks at me as if I have dropped a bomb.

“No, you can’t drop me.” She shakes her head quickly.

I don’t understand her reluctance to come in the car with me. I guess she doesn’t know me because I don’t take No for an answer.

“Why is that Ariel?” I ask raising an eyebrow.

“That’s because this will give everyone a chance to start gossiping.”

“And that bothers you?”

“Yes, it does. I don’t like being a source of everyone’s entertainment.” And she looks down at the ground intently.

I hold her chin, making her look towards me and for a second I feel my heart skip a beat. I blink twice and bend down, “Ariel, let everyone talk. They don’t matter. You should only focus on the people who matter to you.” With these words, I scoop her in my arms and leave the college via the gym’s back exit and head directly for the parking lot.

I hear a shriek from Ariel as the crisp autumn air hits her and bring her closer to me, taking quick strides to get her into the car as fast as possible. Once I am sure she is comfortably settled, I switch on the heater for her.

“Are you cold?”

“No, I am better thank you.” She answers while warming her hands in front of the heater. We don’t talk on our drive towards her home, but I stop at Starbucks and she looks at me confused.

“I’ll be back.” I run inside, grab two cups of coffee and leave.

“Here, drink this, it will warm you up?” I see that she is hesitant but eventually gives in. She takes a sip and a moan escapes from her. I can’t help but smile. It feels good to know she is enjoying her coffee.

The sun is setting, making the sky a mixed pallet of blue, red, orange, and yellow. It’s a beautiful view, but not as beautiful as the girl sitting next to me.

“Thank you, I feel much better now.” she smiles, up at me

“Good to know.” I really didn’t know how good it felt to make someone feel good until now. She directs me to her house and I stop in front of her door. I help her get out of the car and before she heads inside I remember something.

“Umm Ariel, can I have your phone?”

“Sure”.

I dial my number from her phone and once my phone rings I return hers.

“Now we both have each other’s number, if there’s anything you need, anything at all, you call me, alright?”

“Uh right.”